Newly wed royals to visit 7 Canadian cities, kicking off their tour in Ottawa

Two of the country’s biggest summer shindigs will bookend Prince William and Kate’s visit to Canada — a trip the government is already expecting to be an international media circus.

The newlyweds will begin their first official overseas tour in Ottawa where they will attend Canada Day celebrations and end it with the Calgary Stampede, the world-famous annual hoedown in Alberta.

In the middle there will be stops in Quebec City, Montreal, Yellowknife, Charlottetown, and Summerside, P.E.I., — Kate is reportedly a big fan of “Anne of Green Gables.”

In Ottawa the Royal Visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will include:

Thursday June 30 – Ottawa

The trip will begin with the Royal Couple immediately being whisked to the National War Memorial for a wreath laying and book signing.

Next they will head to Rideau Hall for their official welcome to Canada which will feature speeches from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Governor General David Johnston and Prince William himself. The welcome will then be followed by a youth barbecue and reception.

Friday July 1 – Ottawa

Canada Day will be the public’s best chance to see Prince William and Kate Middleton as they will be attending the Canada Day festivities on Parliament hill.

The day will begin with the Duke and Duchess attending a Citizenship ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Civilization. They will then head to Parliament Hill for the noon show celebrations until 2 p.m. The couple will return for a half hour for a public appearance during the evening show at 9 p.m.

Saturday July 2 – Ottawa – Montreal

After a whirlwind start to their visit the Royal Couple will be afforded the opportunity to sleep on on Saturday as their first event of the day will see them take part in a Tree Planting at Rideau Hall at preciously 12:40 p.m. Following the tree planting the Prince and Princess will head to the Canadian War Museum to attend a reception for veterans, war brides and their families.

Their visit to Ottawa will conclude shortly after 2 p.m. when they will head to the Ottawa airport to board a plane for Montreal.

Moore would not give an estimate of the total, but said it would be under the $2 million shelled out for the Queen’s last trip.

“This is actually a very modest event in terms of costs,” Moore said.

“Many of the events that they are going to be taking part in are events that are already taking place … so they will be visiting and taking in events that were already scheduled rather than doing events on the road, which sometimes can have some big costs.”

The tour is to begin June 30 and conclude July 8.

The royal couple’s plans include:

— Ottawa and region from June 30 to July 2.

— Montreal July 2.

— Quebec City July 3.

— Charlottetown July 3-4.

— Summerside July 4.

— Yellowknife July 4-6.

— Calgary July 6-8.

The government says a full itinerary is being developed with municipal, provincial, territorial and federal partners and private organizations. It will be released at a later date.

William and Kate were married in Westminster Abbey on April 29.

This will be the third time Prince William, who is second in line to the British throne, has toured Canada. It will be Kate’s first visit.

The trip to Canada is to be followed by a stop in Los Angeles and the surrounding area.

Royal watchers are already pegging the tour as a major test for the new bride. British tabloids have reported that aides are aware that she and William will be under the microscope and are planning the trip carefully.

One British news organization has reported that she has agreed to do one event in Canada without her husband.

William and Kate’s tour will come only two months after their wedding. William’s father and mother, Prince Charles and Diana, waited two years before visiting Canada. It was their second official tour as a married couple and followed a trip to Australia and New Zealand.

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